ADDICTION

Today our society faces a growing epidemic from prescription drug dependency. Over the last several decades, addiction to psychotherapeutic and pain medications have grown at an alarming rate. Many of our friends and family members have become dependent upon such medications so they can feel normal, deal with everyday life or daily pain. After pharmacologic treatment is initiated, usually months to years, they become disconnected from the mind and body connection. At this point, they have unknowingly tampered with neuroanatomic structures and neurotransmitters which control reward, mood and pain responses. Over time, normal responses become blunted as the drug has hijacked normal biochemical, emotional and pain responses. Personality changes are some of the first sings noticed by those around them, which are a direct result of biochemical processing. Dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA and epinephrine are the major neurotransmitter responsible for this. Because many of these medications affect several neurotransmitters directly and indirectly, multiple chronic disease states may develop and negatively affect biochemical, neurochemical, and physiological systems within the body. These are often referred to as adverse side effects.

Initially, those who are prescribed various medications mentioned above are provided some relief, but this is usually short lived. Generally speaking these medications will work for a few months and then stop working. Upon subsequent visits to their physician, their doctor may increase the dosage to accommodate the patient’s tolerance to their particular medication. This will generally help for a short time and then the same process will begin again. Soon after, the patient may be switched to a similar medication as their current one has become less effective. Further down the road, an increase in dosage is usually required until tolerance to that medication has been established. This is a viscous circle, where the underlying problem has never been addressed or resolved.

There is a better way to treat pharmaceutical dependence which requires one to become proactive in self-healing. With the use of nutrition, neutraceutical supplementation and mind body work one can achieve lasting health without the use of pharmaceutical medications. If one cannot make the required changes to attain good health, they will be at the mercy of pharmacologic medications which carry an inherent risk of adverse side effects.

We must be willing to allow the body to heal naturally, using our built in repair processes. The only way to truly heal is to give the body what it needs to function. This takes time, but can be achieved using nutrition, vitamin and mineral supplementation and cognitive approaches. If you or someone you know if suffering from addiction to pharmacologic medications please call for a free 15 minute consultation.